SARATOGA SPRINGS - In honor of National Homelessness and Hunger Week, the Saratoga County Housing Alliance hosted an event titled ‘A Day Without a Home,’ which allowed participants to enact scenarios that many real homeless people face every day. The event was later followed by a round-table discussion between participants and a few people who are currently struggling with homelessness about what they took away from the event.

BALLSTON SPA – The Ballston Spa School District made several presentations the week of November 26 to inform voters on the $8.9 million Facilities Improvement Referendum that residents will either be approving or rejecting during a vote December 4. The November 27 presentation at the Malta Community Center only had five attendees and was led by BSSD’s superintendent, Dr. Joseph Dragone, who outlined what the referendum will improve for Wood Road Elementary School as well as the athletic facilities at Ballston Spa High School.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Heading into his first season at the helm of the Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks varsity basketball team, Coach Jack Brock is optimistic that the team can improve upon last year’s 5-14 record. He’s hoping they can get started right away as the team opens their season November 30 at home against Glens Falls. 

SCHUYLERVILLE – After a year of spreading environmental awareness initiatives through the school district, the volunteers of Schuylerville’s Green Ribbon School Project are looking forward to even more growth after receiving a grant from SCA, a global hygiene and forest products company. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – For such a small, local business, Saratoga Olive Oil Company has been honored with a worldwide achievement – they were recently named one of the top five businesses, worldwide, for the wide array of oils they offer.

SARATOGA COUNTY – Scattered in abandoned buildings, stairwells and hallways and huddled in the dark nooks and crannies of Saratoga, we pass by the homeless every day, simply letting them blend into the scenery while we walk by with our usual everyday worries. We may throw them some change or give them our leftovers from a restaurant, but most of us do not stop to actually think about whom these people are and why they are sitting on those sidewalk curbs.

PROVIDENCE – Knee-deep in mud next to the waterline of the marsh, a small doe picked her way along, nibbling on small slivers of grass poking up from the mist-shrouded water.

SCHUYLERVILLE - Jodi Mehan and Angela Annese were eagerly discussing the months of training and preparation for their upcoming competitions at Fitness America 2012 in Las Vegas. Mehan, a mother of two who also owns and operates Challenge By Choice fitness studio in Schuylerville; and Annese, a mathematics teacher at Saratoga Springs High School, told of the different paths that have placed them on the same road.

Wilton – For the 31^st year in a row, the Wilton Town Board adopted a budget that contains no road or town tax for residents. The $7.4 million budget allows more spending for the highway department, a necessity according to the Town Board for them to play “catch up.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis (DVRC) Services of Saratoga County is proud to announce the launch of their new website, www.dvrcsaratoga.org. Local graphic and web design agency Tone Creative donated their services to create the new website through their pro-bono program Websites For Good, which provides free graphic and web design services to nonprofits in need.